House Bill 654 Summary

• Appropriates $2,000,000 in additional operating expenditures to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2012, funded by $1,080,000 from the Miscellaneous Revenue Fund and $920,000 from the Federal Grant Fund.

• Appropriates $39,296,500 to the Division of Veterans Services for fiscal year 2013, distributed across personnel costs ($17,319,800), operating expenditures ($18,817,700), capital outlay ($3,108,600), and trustee and benefit payments ($50,400).

• Authorizes the Division of Veterans Services to maintain no more than 310.7 full-time equivalent positions during fiscal year 2013, with any increases requiring Governor approval and notification to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

• Directs the Division of Veterans Services to analyze excess revenues, develop a plan to reduce revenue generation, and create a long-range proposal to maximize use of fund balances for veteran support, with quarterly progress reports required.

• Provides a 2 percent pay increase for all classified and nonclassified permanent performing state employees and directs the Department of Administration to maintain current health insurance benefits while potentially requiring employee cost sharing.